Issue: May a
Judicial Official purchase tickets and attend a
dinner sponsored solely by the University of
Hartford to raise funds for the Governor M. Jodi
Rell Center for Public Service? While it is
anticipated that politically active individuals will
be at the dinner, no political parties are involved
in co-sponsoring the event. Tickets to attend the
fundraiser cost $150. Information was obtained
suggesting that “sponsorship opportunities” may be
available.

Response:
Based upon the facts presented, including that the
University of Hartford is the sole sponsor of the
event, the Committee unanimously determined that the
Judicial Official may purchase tickets and attend
the fundraising dinner. A majority of the
Committee’s members (3) cautioned that to the extent
there may be “sponsorship opportunities” or a
program journal or something similar for this event
in which a judicial title may be published, the
Judicial Official should consider the propriety of
participating in those opportunities and consider
whether the use of the judicial title might
implicitly lend the prestige of judicial office to
advance the private interests of the university in
violation of Canon 2. In rendering its decision, the
Committee considered its opinion in JE 2009-38.